Make Gingerbread Dough

Beat butter in another large bowl with an electric hand mixer at medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.

Add brown sugar and beat 1 minute.

Add molasses and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes.

Add egg and beat until well blended, about 1 minute.

Reduce speed to low and beat in vanilla.

Add flour mixture and beat on low speed just to blend (Image 1).

Gather dough into ball and divide in half. Form each half into ball and flatten into disk (Image 2). Wrap disks separately in plastic and chill until firm, at least 4 hours.

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper (Image 3).

Working with one disk at a time, roll out dough between two sheets of waxed paper to 1/4-inch thickness.

Use the log cabin template to cut pieces from the gingerbread dough (Image 4), and transfer to prepared sheets, spacing two inches apart.

Bake one sheet at a time until cookies are firm on top and slightly darker around edges, about 8 minutes for smaller shapes and up to 15 minutes for larger shapes.

Remove from the oven and re-cut the gingerbread pieces using the templates and a sharp knife (Image 5). This will ensure the pieces fit together perfectly when assembled. Let pieces cool completely.

Gingerbread House Dough

For making the gingerbread house dough, you will need the following ingredients: flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, unsalted butter, light brown sugar, molasses, an egg and vanilla extract.

Gingerbread House Dough

Gather gingerbread dough into ball and divide in half. Form each half into ball and flatten into disk. Wrap disks separately in plastic and chill until firm, at least 4 hours.

Roll out the Gingerbread House Dough

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Working with one disk at a time, roll out dough between two sheets of waxed paper to 1/4-inch thickness.

Cutting the Gingerbread Dough

Use the Cape Cod house template to cut pieces from the gingerbread dough and transfer to prepared sheets, spacing two inches apart.

Cut the Gingerbread House Pieces Using the Template

Remove the gingerbread from the oven and re-cut the pieces using the templates and a sharp knife. This will ensure the pieces fit together perfectly when assembled. Let pieces cool completely.

Make Royal Icing

Whisk together meringue powder and powdered sugar (Image 1).

Pour mixture into bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment.

Add warm water and mix on high speed for about 5-7 minutes or until stiff peaks are achieved (Image 2).

Transfer to a piping bag and use to assemble gingerbread house pieces.

Cover remaining royal icing with a damp towel to prevent crusting (Image 3).

Royal Icing for Gingerbread House

Whisk together meringue powder and powdered sugar to begin making the royal icing for the gingerbread house.

Royal Icing for Gingerbread House

Pour the mixture of meringue powder and powdered sugar into bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Add warm water and mix on high speed for about 5-7 minutes or until stiff peaks are achieved.

Royal Icing for Gingerbread House

Put icing in a piping bag and use to assemble your gingerbread house pieces. Cover remaining royal icing with a damp towel to prevent crusting.

Gingerbread House Construction

Warm candy melts in a heatproof bowl in the microwave at 30-second intervals. Stir well until mixture is melted smooth and no lumps remain.

Gather the gingerbread pieces (Image 1). Coat the short sides of a front/back piece with candy melts using a spoon (Image 2). Attach a side piece on either side, butting the short ends against the candy-coated short ends of the front piece. Hold the pieces in place for 2-3 minutes, or use a tall tumbler as a prop (Image 3).

Coat the remaining front/back pieces and short ends with candy melt and position between the side pieces on the open end. Let stand until set (Image 4).

Coat the under edges of the roof pieces with the melted candy (Image 1) (reheat in the microwave if candy sets) then place them, angled, on top. Hold until set, about 2-3 minutes (Image 2).

Roll out chocolate between two sheets of wax paper or parchment paper. Cut into 1x2-inch pieces (Image 3). Serrate each piece with a toothpick or the back of a knife (Image 4). Attach the pieces to the roof beginning at the bottom edge and working upward (Image 5). If the pieces don't adhere naturally, use a dab of water on the underside of the shingle before attaching it. Repeat process on the roof piece.

Measure pretzel rods against the front of the house and cut to size with a sharp knife (Image 1). Cover front piece with royal icing using an offset spatula. Press cut pretzels into the royal icing (Image 2). Repeat process on sides and back of the house.

Adhere two long pretzel rods on the edge of the roof at one front end of the house using royal icing (Image 3). Cut long strips of chocolate fondant in matching lengths and striate with a toothpick or the back of a knife (Image 4). Adhere pieces with dabs of royal icing just underneath the pretzel pieces (Image 5). Use the back of a knife to make lines in the fondant mimicking planks/boards.

Cut a 2 1/2 x 1 1/4 piece of chocolate fondant that has been rolled to 1/4-inch thickness, and serrate with a toothpick or the back of a knife. This will be the front door. Press a dragee into the piece to one side for a "doorknob" (Image 1). Adhere the door to the pretzel facade using a dab of royal icing (Image 2).

Cut a 2x2-inch square of chocolate fondant and adhere it just below the peak of the roof using royal icing (Image 3). Serrate with a knife and divide into two doors with a deep indentation (Image 4). Press dragees into the fondant on either door panel as "doorknobs."

Cut a 3-inch round piece of chocolate fondant, and then cut out a 1 1/2-inch circle from the center using the large end of a piping tip or a bottle cap (Image 1). Lightly coat the circle with water and sprinkle over green sanding sugar (Image 2). Let set until partially dry. Adhere wreath just above the front door using royal icing. Press in confetti sprinkles onto wreath (Image 3).

Allow house to dry completely overnight. When house is set, transfer to a cake plate or serving board and sprinkle over powdered sugar "snow."

Making a Gingerbread House

The first step to making a gingerbread house is to gather the gingerbread pieces to begin building the house.

Gingerbread House Piece With Candy Melt

Coat the short sides of a front/back gingerbread piece with candy melts using a spoon.

Cape Cod Gingerbread House

Attach a side piece on either side, butting the short ends against the candy-coated short ends of the front piece. Hold the pieces in place for 2-3 minutes, or use a tall tumbler as a prop.

Assembling the Gingerbread Pieces

Coat the remaining front/back gingerbread pieces and short ends with candy melt and position between the side pieces on the open end. Let stand until set.

Notes: Chocolate fondant can be found at most craft stores and cake supply shops. If you can't find chocolate fondant, Tootsie Roll candies can be substituted. Knead 5-6 together at one time and roll flat. Cut as desired.

In this recipe, quick-setting candy melts are used as the mortar. It cuts drying time drastically, but royal icing can be used instead.

Gingerbread House Roof With Candy Melts

Coat the under edges of the gingerbread roof pieces with the melted candy.

Building the Gingerbread House

Reheat the candy melts in the microwave if candy sets, then place them, angled, on top. Hold until set, about 2-3 minutes.

Chocolate Fondant for Gingerbread House Roof

Roll out chocolate between two sheets of wax paper or parchment paper. Cut into 1x2-inch pieces to create a gingerbread house roof.

Gingerbread House Roof Made of Chocolate Fondant

Serrate each fondant piece with a toothpick or the back of a knife to begin making the roof.

Gingerbread House Roof Made of Chocolate Fondant

Attach the chocolate fondant pieces to the roof beginning at the bottom edge and working upward.

Pretzel Rods as Siding for Gingerbread House

Measure pretzel rods against the front of the house and cut to size with a sharp knife.

Pretzels Rods on Gingerbread House

Cover front piece of the gingerbread house with royal icing using an offset spatula. Press cut pretzels into the royal icing. Repeat process on sides and back of the house.

Pretzel Rods on Gingerbread House

Adhere two long pretzel rods on the edge of the roof at one front end of the house using royal icing .

Chocolate Fondant Strips for Gingerbread House Roof

Cut long strips of chocolate fondant in matching lengths and striate with a toothpick or the back of a knife to begin forming the edge of the roof.

Chocolate Fondant and Pretzel Roof on Gingerbread House

Adhere chocolate fondant pieces with dabs of royal icing just underneath the pretzel pieces on your gingerbread house. Use the back of a knife to make lines in the fondant mimicking planks/boards.

Chocolate Fondant Door for Gingerbread House

Cut a 2 1/2 x 1 1/4 piece of chocolate fondant that has been rolled to 1/4-inch thickness, and serrate with a toothpick or the back of a knife. This will be the front door to your gingerbread house.

Chocolate Fondant Door for Gingerbread House

Adhere the chocolate fondant door to the pretzel facade using a dab of royal icing.

Chocolate Fondant Window on Gingerbread House

Cut a 2x2-inch square of chocolate fondant and adhere it just below the peak of the roof using royal icing.

Chocolate Fondant Doors for Gingerbread House

Serrate the fondant doors with a knife and divide into two doors with a deep indentation. Press dragees into the fondant on either door panel as "doorknobs."

Chocolate Fondant Wreath for Gingerbread House

Cut a 3-inch round piece of chocolate fondant, and then cut out a 1 1/2-inch circle from the center using the large end of a piping tip or a bottle cap to begin creating the wreath for your gingerbread house.

Chocolate Fondant Wreath for Gingerbread House

Lightly coat the chocolate fondant circle with water and sprinkle over green sanding sugar. Let set until partially dry.

Chocolate Fondant Wreath for Gingerbread House

For an adorable finishing touch on a log cabin-style gingerbread house, adhere a chocolate fondant wreath just above the front door using royal icing. Press in confetti sprinkles onto wreath.

Rustic Log Cabin Gingerbread House

The final step: admire your handiwork. Allow house to dry completely overnight. When house is set, transfer to a cake plate or serving board and sprinkle over powdered sugar "snow."